People are becoming more and more educated on the topic. Israeli is loosing the smypathy that use to work for them. What people on earth tolerate sea and land lockade that stops any supplies to get in to the land. Don't forget the brutal 45 year occupation from the Israelis which kills people of Gaza. Continual illegal settlements that go against international law. GET EDUCATED ON THE TOPIC and judgege for yourself if the people of Gaza can tolerate all these crimes.

Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood, etc. have dedicated goals of eliminating Israel and killing all the Jews. A major step for peace would be for them to declare Israel's right to exist - there will be war and war is hell and Iran is looking forward to it.

I cannot translate Filistani or Persian. But it occurs to me that it is possible to interpret the declarations of leading Palestinians and Iranians as calling for a change in the constitution of Israel and its de facto practices (which to Palestinians, and to many observers also, look like deliberate incremental Zionisation of ancient Eretz Israe), but not for the destruction of Israelis. Yet, I've not heard many voices in Israel allowing that possibility.
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To me, that smacks of either a holdover from Holocaust angst, or a neglectfully partisan bias, or a willfully and dusfunctionally aggressive attitude on the part of official Israeli decision-makers.
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Isn't there a single voice here in this blog that can see the possibility of this entire sickening history being a series of psycho-linguistic mistakes of voice and interpretation?

Interesting view of a horrid little war: deliberate on both sides, yes. For their respective internal politics, yes. Possibly leading to the two sides getting along? Only if having become stronger at home they don't decide to go with the fact that that alone gives each side MORE freedom to wider war with the other...

Gaza is governed by terrorists. Them the terrorists should be dealt with the Indian way. Indians had just hanged to dry the only one they managed to arrest alive after the Mumbai massacres - Ajmal Kasab.
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He was exactly as valiant a warrior as the Palestinian terrorists are. Very brave when slaughtering unarmed civilians, much less so when caught and had to accept responsibility for his actions.
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"Ajmal Kasab was babbling incoherently before the hangman pulled the lever at Yerawada, about 150km from Mumbai's Arthur Road jail. 'Allah qasam maaf karna, aisi galthi dobara nahi hogi' (I swear by Allah, please forgive me, such a mistake won't be repeated) were his last words".

This conflict, and every confict, is born of "I am ..." statements. The statements "I am Israeli", and "I am Palestinian" have become rigidifying in a dangerously deadly way, as is obvious when one thinks of their connotations.
The solution is to change those statements to "I have Palestinian citizenship" and "I have Israeli citizenship", both of which allow their utterers to be human first, and to have citizenship rights and obligations added as a choice to one's ineluctable common essence with others as a human being.
But is there such an institution as Palestinian citizenship? Not yet ... but it soon will/must be. In the interim every Israeli government, corporate, or private act which denies that citizenship is fatuously foolish, hypocritical, and denying of Palestinian humanhood. Likewise every charter to deny the rights and obligations of Israeli citizenship is fatuously foolish and hypocritical but it is understandable while members of the Israeli Goverment flout their obligations as decision-makers of an occupying power.

Where will it end? What a stupid question - and title, too. It won't end, period.
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THERE IS NO TRUCES, JUST PREPARATIONS FOR THE INEVITABLE BATTLES TO COME.

That said, Andy McCarthy writes to the WP: “With all that is stacked against them, with the perverse way the supposedly civilized world averts its eyes from the unabashed savagery of Israel’s enemies, it is a marvel that Israelis remain so strong and so decent.”

So it's fine if Israel end up killing countless children and civillians? It's fine if Israel have killed ENTIRE families in palestine? So I'm guessing it's fine that Israel murdered the 11 month son of a BBC cameraman too?

These recent attacks started because Israel killed the Hamas military leader. Do you really think that anybody would sit by and watch their leader be killed? Not to mention hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians. Israel are the ones to be weary of here, attacking when it's dark, targeting civilian rich environments.

It doesn't matter who you are, black or white or brown, homosexual or heterosexual, male or female, stand up for simple humanitarian rights- water, shelter, food and definitely no INNOCENT CHILDREN being mercilessly slain through cowardly rocket attacks in the night.

Stand up, open your eyes and take a look around you, don't just stick to reading the same paper or website everyday, they will be bias, they have their own agendas. Read and make the decision yourself of what is really happening; don't let them make it for you. We have a brain which gives us the ability to understand and analyse...so why not use it?

And, by the way the Zionist have got their state. But they insist on claiming it all for themselves, and (in their mind) there is no room for Palestinians. What do you think would happen when a group of people, relentless continue to encroach (like an unwelcome house guest) on your home ? And as I'm sure you already know, Israel existed before Hamas, and Hamas is simply a reaction to this (ever increasing) encroachment/occupation.

Sure, there are disruptive elements (on both sides). But in order for this to end, and for it to be a success, compromises/appeasements need to be made by both parties involved. Simply put, both the Arabs and the Jews need to respect each other, and each other's religions, in order for there to be peace.

But, as I'm sure you will appreciated, the moment the world stops supporting Israel (and presumably because of its excessive and seemingly xenophobic (re)actions). Israel will simply cease to exist! So it would be best if the citizens and military of Israel, try to understand that.

The killing of the innocent, especially children is a most horrible thing. I wonder if Hamas military leader got whacked for allowing, maybe even directing, the launching of dozens of rockets daily, aimed randomly into the Israeli towns surrounding Gaza? (ya think!)This happened regularly for a long time before any kinetic action from Israel came in response. Sooner or later you had to know Israel would say enough!

This is not true - The Israeli Goverment offered many (yes more than once) the Palestinians almost the entire of the west bank but they refused! Please take a look on poles done in Israel - You'll see that most Israelis are willing to give away the west bank (except few blocs). The Israelis are willing to that despite the fact the Palestinians DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE ISRAEL STATE TO EXIST and I'm not talking only about HAMAS (AGAIN I ENCOURGE EACH ONE OF THE READERS TO READ THEIR COVENANTS but also Fatah. Look what happened when Israel withdrawn from Gaza - please enlightened me - why are missiled been lunched against CIVILIANS.

"But, as I'm sure you will appreciated, the moment the world stops supporting Israel (and presumably because of its excessive and seemingly xenophobic (re)actions). Israel will simply cease to exist! So it would be best if the citizens and military of Israel, try to understand that".

Firstly, I'm not sure I understand it, though it seems like that from the "perspective of the UN". Israel is a strong country and the fact its surrounded by enemies, doesn't say it should give up the lands surly are an essence for its security.

Secondly, you mentioned the word xenophobic - try to understand, when Israel left Gaza they fired rockets on civilians but "only" managed to go as far as the south of Israel. Now if Israel will leave the west bank for them then the entire of Israel will be in danger. Now can you blame Israel being xenophobic?

Lastly, in terms of Morality - the existence of the state of Israel is not less than a torch for the free world. Just think about what's going on in Syria, Iran and the rest of Israel enemies and appreciate the presence of Israel in such a disruptive and immoral area.

Today is Thanksgiving in America, and if you don't already know, its a day that is recognized by all Americans, as a day in which we (regardless of religious or political allegiances, etc) give thanks to all that has been gifted to us. It's a day for family, and day to celebrate prosperity, but also a day of recognizing that others may not be as fortunate. It is a day for humility, in the light of the world's adversities. It is a day that that we all cherish, because is represents a unanimous appreciation for the essentials of humanity and communal society.

As I'm sure you already know, it goes both ways, and as I see it, they're some fundamental elements in play. And when this sort of activity happens, it's because of a sense of un-relenting hopelessness on the part of the oppressed (… Can you understand that ? … Surely, it cannot be too difficult .. )

Consequently, appreciating that fact is crucial to the furtherance of progress. And the moment any side thinks that it's needs to outweigh the needs of other's (and for whatever reason). Illogical violence is sure to follow.

Everyone on this planet wants to be secure, prosperous, religiously and ideologically independent, and most importantly, ensure that their children will do better in life that they did. These are the fundamental tenants of life's existence.

"Israel is a strong country and the fact its surrounded by enemies, doesn't say it should give up the lands surly are an essence for its security. "

Although Israel is a strong country (albeit with significant backing by the Americans … the world's de facto guardian), that does not not give it the right to overwhelm those that seek to oppose it (and for whatever reason). Sometimes, restraint can be a necessary part of successful existence, and it adds significantly to one's credibility. But once those borders have been breached, as Israel has frequently done, one simply becomes just another self-serving "bull-dog" that is incapable of understudying it's own legitimacy.

"Secondly, you mentioned the word xenophobic - try to understand, when Israel left Gaza they fired rockets on civilians but "only" managed to go as far as the south of Israel. Now if Israel will leave the west bank for them then the entire of Israel will be in danger. Now can you blame Israel being xenophobic?"

Unless I'm completely mistaken, Gaza isn't the only place that the Israelis need to vacate … Perhaps it would be best if you try (very hard) to think of this situation from the perspective of the occupied. Maybe then, will you understand the essential elements that are at work in this century's old conflict.

"Lastly, in terms of Morality - the existence of the state of Israel is not less than a torch for the free world. …"

Really ?! In this century, that is unencumbered by sensibilities of religious dogma, how can you even entertain that thought ! … What notion of "free" are you speaking of ?

A country, completely supported by clueless external agents, that seeks religious freedom, but is surrounded by the worst of its religious enemies. Motivated by some sort of religiously divine legitimacy, but yet participating in activities to the contrary. Relentlessly exercising it's right to exist, whilst participating in an uncompromising (and ever encumbering) occupation of the lands is seeks to call home … Surely, this can't represent any kind of notion of "freedom" … and (seriously) just spare me the reply!

Anyway, It's Thanksgiving, and there is much for all to be thankful of.

Well, though you've asked for my silence - I'll reply shortly. (apparently you have been tired from people who don't think like you).
Your high language is not convincing (perhaps though it works on yourself). "It goes both ways" you wrote unwilling to accept basic facts in this conflict. Please do not ignore the facts as I wrote before just because you rather prefer to use educated language. And, please do not patronize me about Thanksgiving...
To end it - I'm much of appreciation of your last paragraph. I think you just proofed my point.
Peace out

There scrimmages and battles, but then there wars and (more importantly) the fundamental reasons behind them … but I prefer to engage in discussions about the latter (everything else just seems to unduly cloud the issue).

AResonableVoice - I couldn't agree with you more. Though I believe "things that you see from here are not the things you see from there" we as people who cares about what is going in the ME should continue to debate and learn from others' perspective and knowledge. (As for anyone who read the economist - I'm not sure about that).

I am optimistic for a lasting peace. This state of affairs is not healthy for the vast majority of the population in Israel and Palestine. These people just want to raise their families in a safe environment and to have opportunities for their children to thrive. This can only come through a lasting peace. It is within reach and has been for a number of years. If there is no peace, the already elevated risks will only increase. I am optimistic because there is no other choice.

Many comments reflect a pre-occupation with blaming one side or the other. Both are guilty and both deserve better.

The "vast majority" in Gaza only control events through elections. They have elected Hamas, whose Charter, which obviously you have not troubled yourself to read, explains with crystal clarity, and repeatedly, that Muslims are required to wage Jihad, or holy war, against the Infidel Jews who have created a nation on land that Muslims once won through conquest, and such land is "consecrated" to Muslims until Judgement Day. Article XI.

For Hamas, when Islam conquered these lands from the Christians (for example, Constantinople --Christian from 306-1453--through terrible sieges and the Islamic sword, that was not then illegal occupation. Muslims never occupied anyone else's land "illegally". It was written they should take the land and they waged Jihad (holy war) and conquered vast territory.

Illegal occupation only occurs, you see, when the Infidel takes back the land from the Muslim.

I support Israel and lived there for a year. I was friends with soldiers, who were emotionally scarred from war (and occupation), and their parents: and these are courageous people.

I was in a Northern Israeli community (in the Galil Maaravi) when it was attacked by rockets from Lebanon, saw the damage and picked at the shrapnel. I was locked-down when there were fears of terrorist infiltration. I was woken by automatic anti-aircraft fire on the border... We young adults made jokes and took it in stride, but those who had children sure didn't.

My position is an evolution from one that was much more hawkish directly as a result of this experience, particularly when it came to the children. The peace and security of my friends is wrapped up in the peace an security of the Palestinians, especially as we move into the age of remote weaponry (e.g. missiles and dirty bombs) and suicide bombers. This is why I say that I have no choice but to be optimistic.

No, I hate that article of the charter and hope for it to be removed.
No, I do not advocate hate of any ethnic group.

It's Koran, not Bible which makes the concoction deadly. There is a link to the Bible though: Koran is a savage and ignorant, pagan distortion of what the two Testaments are. Plagiarism at its worst.
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That said, more than 70% of the planet landmass is not inhabited by peoples who were its original owners. It won't change because Hillary Clinton says so - and even she says so on the principle "Do as I say, not as I do".

Perhaps you are unfamiliar with the various passages of the Bible that have given the Zionist sufficient fuel to further their cause (and at the demise of others).

Just one example,

"When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you"

Deuteronomy 7:1

My original post was simply trying to identify that this region has a very complex past that many people (including the ones involved) are conveniently ignorant of.

That being said, what is different in this case (and a few others in history), is that it steeps in the stink of "divine entitlement" that is so eagerly capitalized on by religious chauvinism.

But you are right, perhaps I should have included the Quran, Book of Mormon, Hindu texts, Buddhist texts, etc. in my example list … just in case someone took offense.

How far back you want to go and WHERE would that lead the world??.
Human progress has witnessed a major reappraisal of events and their outgrowths and established “civilized” criteria for human developments.
One of these deemed as a cardinal watershed is that in MODERN TIMES a land belongs to the people that form a national and/or cultural majority on it; undoubtedly the Palestinian Arabs (both Moslems and Christians) in Palestine since the seventh century AD and up to 1948 UNINTERUPTEDLY
That same human progress mandated the illegality fallacy and non admissibility both legal and moral of COLONIZATION and proclaimed the end of the old "stronger tribe conquers and supplants weaker tribe for the better pastures"!

Hence the right to SELF DETERMINATION of and to SELF DEFENCE for peoples and nations in and on the land on which they have come to be a majority .Hence French and Yugoslav resistance to German Nazi occupation the French identity of France and the Arab identity of Palestine.
Israel came to be after colonizing Palestine in collusion with the Judeo/Christian-Zionist/neo colonialist alliance which with British mandate overt collusion and support allowed Jewish emigration AGAINST the express will and constant opposition of the Palestinian people thus transforming the 10% indigenous Jewish population of Palestine in 1918 into a forced and imposed 38% in the 1947/48s .
Both acts of demographic aggression/conquest and subsequent military conquest took place OCCURRED in the TWENTIETH Century AD.
Hence Israel is not only a colony of aliens established at the era of DECOLONIZATION but is an act of deliberate rejection and denial of human progress and a dangerously retrogressive move/precedent in modern times .

Governance need cool minds,maturity and leadership and not short term emotions.There are many examples in history where short term emotional mindset created incalculable long term damage.I quote two:

1.Germans had chosen Hitler 'democratically' and at some time,he enjoyed mass support.However, the shame that Hitler has brought to Germans by his actions will continue for generations.
2.When Indira Gandhi, the former Indian Prime Minister was assasinated by her Sikh body guards, angry mobs mercilessly killed thousands of innocent Sikh people and even enjoyed the killings.I as 14 year old hindu boy was witness to this horror in my small town where we had encountered huge resistance from angry mobs to protect a sikh family.But today most of Indians heads hang in shame at the mention of these riots(actually they where not riots,they were one sided murder of innocent Sikh brothers and sisters).

As such, Palestinians, should not feel happy about choosing HAMAS.There is no difference between Palestinians choosing HAMAS and Germans choosing Nazis,only HAMAS does not has the military might of Germans.Nor the ordinary Palestinians feel happy if rockets hit Iaraeli cities.Your happiness is same as that of angry mobs rejoicing over killing of innocent Sikhs. It will not stand a 30 year test,I can assure you, as human beings basically are same all over the Globe.

There is a saying in Hindi which means, "become enemies, but only to that extent that when you become friends,you should not feel ashamed".There is no denying that Palestinians have suffered atrocities by Israeli Military.But at the same time , Israelis have also suffered. The solution lie in negotiations and tolerance only which is, sadly lacking from both sides at present.

When I go back to my home town and meet my Sikh friend of that family,who is now a very successful businessman much richer than I am, there is a sense of pride for what our family had done in 1984.Further, we have a Sikh Prime Minister who is undoubtedly one of the most Gentlemen, Honest and hard working leader in this Globe, an architect of India's spectacular growth of last two decades.

Hope every Israeli and Palestinian neighbors live in peace rather than hating and fighting each other.Looks very difficult at present but one should never lose hope. Just few decades back Germans and French were in similar situation.God bless Palestinians and Israeli people.

When you ascribe certain feelings of remorse to Palestinians for the killing of Jews, you take your own culture and religion and circumstances and assume that these are transferable universally.

They are not.

when in some Arab countries the authorities cut off the hand of a thief, or stone an adulterous to death, or beat a woman who has been raped because she shamed her family, they are not sorry 30 years later. Why, then, should Palestinians, who are Muslim and taught only what Hamas, through Iran, wishes them to learn about Jews and even about the history of their region, feel remorse?

When Afghani solders shot Americans who were on their side, and training them to fight after the Americans leave (in order to protect themselves--these Afghanis, from their Afghani enemies--they were questioned. How could you shoot the Americans who are helping you? Because, they answered, yes the Americans are friends in this arena, but in the larger arena they are Infidels--the enemy.

You are good and wise, sidr1. I wish all Israelis and Palestinians were like you. I recommended your post, you deserve it.

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"Do not hate anybody, because that force, that hatred, which comes out from you, must, in the long run, come back to you. If you love, that love will come back to you, completing the circuit. It is as certain as can be, that every bit of hatred that goes out of the heart of man comes back to him in full force; nothing can stop it, and every impulse of love comes back to him."

Do Israelis feel remorse for the Jewish terrorism of the 1940s in Palestine and Egypt? No, they don't,, since in 1980 they... "instituted the Lehi ribbon, red, black, grey, pale blue and white, which is awarded to former [terrorist] members of the Lehi underground who wished to carry it, "for military service towards the establishment of the State of Israel"".

Some of those terrorists, executed for having assassinated the British Minister Resident in the Middle East, were given a state funeral in Israel and postage stamps were issued in a souvenir sheet called "Martyrs of the struggle for Israel's independence."

I would add that in 21 st century we need to come out with the medieval mindset of prejudging people on the basis of colour, country, religion and economic status.It is already happening, two of the largest democracies, India and US, are being led today by extremely capable leaders, belonging to minorities. It will be a great day when Palestinians and Israelis will sit together to find solutions to their problems.

Freedom of speech is a very desired goal. But intolerance and hatred towards any community should be ruthlessly crushed at the beginning itself. I firmly believe that had Europeans(incl Germans) and American people & Governments acted early and ruthlessly against Hitler, WWII & Holocaust would not have happened. Had the new PM of India in 1984,Mr Rajiv Gandhi decided to put Army on the streets immediately(it was eventually done 3 days later),mass killings of Sikh people would not have happened.Had international community intervened early in Bosnia & Rwanda lives of many innocent Bosnian Muslims and Rwandans(Tutsis and Moderate Hutus)respectively, would have been saved.

Religions are a big problem too, except the inherently peaceful ones. Mllions of people have been imprisoned, tortured and killed "in the name of God", and what I find most disgusting is that the culprits thought they were doing the right thing because their god had "ordered" them to do it. The perfect excuse. And the so-called "religions of the Book" are, paradoxically, the worst ones.

" I say let them fight. Let them fight to the death and really feel the sting of war. Only this will solve the underlying problems."

Are you serious? That would take away the all the pretensions of the fake humanitarian crowd - and they need those pretensions to be able to spew their bile while pretending to be concerned about the sufferings of others. They would insist on a ceasefire for those reasons alone. Like any good sadist, they know that, they cannot torture their victims to death in one fell swoop, because they would be deprived of future pleasures; and self-righteousness; and an outlet for their pathological hate; and the chance to pretend to be moral; and a semi-acceptable way to present themselves to the world as just and equitable; and to forget who they really are and what kind of stock they come from...

Visiting the caves of wine in Bordeaux, France, we learned that Muslims used to live in those caves and the French drove out the Muslims under the leadership of Charles Martell. Today no one asks if the French have a right to defend themselves.

Same thing with the Italiens.Muslims fought off and driven out. Today no one talks about an Italian occupation.

Hungary? Same.

Spain? Same.

Islam has succeeded in convincing the West that the Allied victory against the Ottoman Turks in WWI created an illegal occupation by the Infidel on Muslim lands. In reality, the lands were originally Christian. From 306 AD until the Siege of Constantinople in 1453, what became the Turkish caliphate had been under Christian rule for nearly 1450 years. That land was stolen by Islamic Jihad warriers, and the name Constantinople became Istanbul. j

Islam illegally occupied that land from 1453 until they were finally driven out at the end of World War I. They have been trying to steal it back ever since.

I accept your historical analysis: the only genuinely Mohammedan land is the one where Mohammed invented his cult in 650s AD. Arabian Peninsula. Everything else they have taken by sword, and in positive cases like the ones you cited (France, Italy, Hungary) and others you didn't (Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia etc.) they have lost it, also by sword.
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However, beware of the Mohammedan 'Reconquista'! Sometimes it's by sword and stealth (Kosovo, Bosnia), sometimes it's by the West own stupidity. France is close to 20% of its population being replaced by Mohammedans, Sweden and the Netherlands allowed whole cities - Malmo, Rotterdam - to fall into Moslems' hands. Swedes, Dutch and French become dhimmis even though they haven't lost the sovereignty over their own countries. As yet, that is.

Human progress has witnessed a major reappraisal of events and their outgrowths and established “civilized” criteria for human developments.
One of these deemed as a cardinal watershed is that in MODERN TIMES a land belongs to the people that form a national and/or cultural majority on it; undoubtedly the Palestinian Arabs (both Moslems and Christians) in Palestine since the seventh century AD and up to 1948s
That same human progress mandated the illegality fallacy and non admissibilaty both legal and moral of COLONIZATION and proclaimed the end of the old "stronger tribe conquers and supplants weaker tribe for the better pastures"!
Hence the right to SELF DETERMINATION of and to SELF DEFENCE for peoples and nations in and on the land on which they have come to be a majority in modern times.Hence French and Yugoslav resistance to German Nazi occupation and the undoubted national/cultural identity of France as FRENCH.
Israel came to be after colonizing Palestine in collusion with the Judeo/Christian-Zionist/neo colonialist alliance which with British mandate collusion allowed Jewish emigration into Palestine AGAINST the express will and constant opposition of the Palestinian people thus transforming the natural 10% Jewish population of Palestine in 1918 into 38% in the 1947/48s .
Both acts of demographic aggression/conquest and subsequent military conquest took place OCCURRED in the TWENTIETH Century AD.
Hence Israel is not only a colony of aliens established at the era of DECOLONIZATION but is an act of deliberate rejection of human progress and a dangerously retrogressive move/precedent in modern times .

I wonder, if there will be, any time soon, article analyzing Palestinian internal politics and how it repeatedly solves it's internal problems by inflicting damage in Israel.
Clearly, Netanyahu will gain nothing by this campaign. Who do you think it will please? For leftists it's too harsh, for rightists it's too soft. Israel will also gain nothing. It will lose public picture no matter what it does and how many leaflets and sms' it will send.
Before this operation, Hamas was gaining nothing with it's low level warfare, while Abu Mazen and Fatah were under the spotlight for their UN effort.
After this, Hamas will be legitimized by high profile state visits, by compromises from Israel, you name it.
If you want to judge this mess on qui bono basis, you should look into Hamas direction. Everyone else lose.

Not sure where you live, because the British press has not reported on the rocketry falling upon Israel, and and the NYT somehow became "distracted" from this news as well. Thus does the average person, not knowing the background of the Israeli advance, conclude mistakenly that Netanyahu will gain nothing.
Send us your address and we'll have those rockets daily diverted to your zip code. I feel certain it will be easier to converse upon the subject after just a few days of living under attack.
There have been more than 1700 injuries from mortar and rocket fire in israel since 2006. In 2012 alone, more than 450 rockets and mortars have been fired.Over 1,147 rockets were fired at Israel between November 14 and 20. Rockets were fired at Jerusalem for the first time and at Tel Aviv for the first time since the first Gulf War.
As of November 19, over 252 Israelis have been injured in rocket attacks since the start of the operation, as reported by Magen David Adom, Israel's emergency medical services.
On November 20, two Israelis were killed by rockets, one soldier and one civilian.
Your address again? We'd like to see YOU "gain nothing" for awhile.

I meant, that Netanyahu will gain nothing politically, and thus, I was refuting common argument, that this campaign is result of upcoming Israeli election and it's goal is to boost Likud's election result.

I'm very well aware of the rockets fired at Israel and I do support strongly her right do defend herself against this kind of terrorism.

if you kill my son i will hate you for the rest of my life, until i die. i should forgive you for the bitterness i inflict on everyone that have nothing to do with it. but i can't. And i will warn anyone around how you should pay for what you have done.

maybe if you came forth, and truly admitted your wrong doing and asked for forgiveness could there be a chance at making peace.
not through third party negotiation. there is nothing to negotiate.

and it doesn't matter if "my president" think otherwise, or behind closed doors the killer of my son made a deal with my cousin.

or i could transcend my hatred, but i would be one of the very few.

so it cannot end, not in this generation. on both side.

so if on top of it you find it difficult to even get your daily bread, game of peace is over, and the game of war will prevail.

it is often intelectual masturbation to look for the "higher" explanation to solve the problem, you simply explain it. no offence to the individuals who actually spent time to try to find truth in the political/ideological roots of the conflict.

if you kill my son i will hate you for the rest of my life, until i die. i should forgive you for the bitterness i inflict on everyone that have nothing to do with it. but i can't. And i will warn anyone around how you should pay for what you have done.

Do the 6,000 families of US servicmen killed in Afghanistan and Iraq feel the same way?

Now you know the difference between the uncivilized and the civilized.

Today it is Gaza and Tel Aviv yesterday it was Jenin tomorrow it will be XY in or around Palestine or any where else in an ever widening battle field .

IT will NOT end as long as the basic issue the cause of a people DISLOCATED DISPOSSESSED DISFRANCHISED and SUBJUGATED from and in his home land then supplanted by ALIENS is NOT equitably resolved according to the norms of justice legality and morality and express international will.

Contrary to ALL the expectations of the Zionist/neocolonialist alliance
-the Palestinians did neither forget or forgo their rights in their homeland nor forgive the aggressor and usurper and
-the regions' rejection of the Zionist/neocolonialist implant is deepening and hardening and
-the whole world awareness of and attentiveness to the crime committed by the Zionist/neocolonialist alliance against the Palestinian people is increasing 'and
-far from solving the Jewish problem the implantation of Israel in Palestine created a far more serious and threatening problem in and to the region and in and to the world at large.
-empowering Israel into sole regional nuclear power has started a regional nuclear power chase that threatens not only Israel and the region directly but the whole world.

IT WILL ONLY END when the WEST (USA&W.EUROPE) that planted Israel in Palestine nurtured it and empowered it realizes its horrendous mistake musters enough courage to stand up to Zionist/Jewish influence in its own domain and reins in its creation Israel and imposes through the UNSC a force able resolution of the problem based on:

a- Upholding and implementation of Palestinians’ inalienable rights in their own homeland and total sovereignty over their UNGA allocated share of the land of Palestine to establish their state on; not less than 48% of total
b- Due protection of the security of the Jewish community presently residing illegally in Palestine and their entitlement to no more than 52% of the total area in which they can establish their own Jewish state if they so choose!

(Both figures above as in the one and only numerical expression of international will re land allocation to both communities; which happens to be the sole internationally approved basis and maximum allowed of any intended Jewish sovereignty in Palestine )

All the lands you see as "home lands for Moslems", with the exception of the Arabian Peninsula, were taken by Mohammedan sword - dislocating, subjugating, and whatever else highly emotional words you chose to work yourself into tantrum.
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So calm down and and stop posing as a hysterical woman. Peoples - meaning, nations, or ethnic groups, or religious groups - keep the lands they can, lose the lands they cannot. In other words, Israel won, you lost. Eat it.

Without a more farsighted approach that directly addresses the dysfunctional dynamics within Palestinian politics, any so-called brokered ceasefire or truce is unlikely to be any more durable than previous ones.

This latest week long Israeli offensive marks the sixth major military operation against Gaza since Israel withdrew its soldiers and settlers in 2005, and the first since the heavy military campaign (Operation Cast Lead) four years ago.

Egypt must play a pivotal role in any negotiations for a truce because, as the only other party with a direct stake in Gaza’s stability and one of the very few capable of talking directly to all key actors, it surely is deemed to be best placed in performing the role of peacemaker.

Events in Gaza, though, have strained already tense relations between Egypt and Israel, with Mr Morsi already having withdrawn his ambassador in Tel Aviv while dispatching his prime minister to Gaza in a show of support and solidarity with Hamas. What is more, with the Obama administration openly siding with Israel, US-Egyptian ties have also been markedly damaged.

Israel insists that its offensive is aimed at ending Qassam and Katyusha rocket attacks from Gaza once and for all. Hamas wants to see a clear end to the five-year Gaza blockade and the reopening of its borders. In reality, this dichotomy is not likely to be resolved because neither side appears to have a clear endgame. Hamas will never be eliminated because it is an organisation built on continuity. Even if its rocket-launching capabilities are destroyed, this will only fuel its drive to rearm, just as it did after Cast Lead. Until the underlying grievances of both sides can be addressed, it seems probable that the cycle of violence will continue.

The "underlying grievance" of Hamas as written in their Charter, spoken by their leaders, and explained by Ahmadinejad, is that according to the Qur'an, Jews and other Infidels (Christians, primarily but not exclusively) cannot be allowed to remain on any lands the Muslims won by force. Article XI of the Hamas Charter, among other places in the Charter, not a word of which they will alter. That is the grievance. Period. It does not matter a whit to them that this land has not been under Islamic control since it was lost in the war of the first World War. They fought. They lost. It should be over. It wasn't theirs anymore by the time Britain went for partition. Not on the ground. But in their heads it had always been theirs. It had been usurped by Infidels.

The Muslim can conquer by the sword vast lands that were never his; he can steal them from Christians and Jews and feel righteous because of the Qur'an. But let them attempt to regain the lands the Muslims stole from them and suddenly we hear all about how "wrong" that is. That is the grievance.

It was theirs and it is theirs for all eternity. This is not just in their "biblejJ", you see.This is in their constitution--their charter. This isn't just a relgious segment of their community; this is their government, which is one with their " bible". There is no division. This is the grievance. They need to reverse the consequences of World War I.

Ahmadinejad said it very plainly: they need to reverse the military losses suffered by Islam over the past 300 years. [Battle of Vienna. They lost.] And more recently, over the past 100 years. [World War I; they lost.]

People wrongly believe that the fighting in Israel & Palestine is a holy war, and that we simply need to negotiate a cease fire. The truth is, after WWII some of the wealthiest people in the world sought to create a new sovereign nation for themselves. They desired the land of Palestine, as it was geographically strategic and has a rich history, as Palestine is home to the world’s most holy sites (for Jews, Christians and Muslims). Middle Easterners have never accepted the legitimacy of this new nation and have fought tooth and nail to defend the Palestinian people who have had their land stolen from them. For three generations now, Palestinians have been murdered at ratios of 100’s of Palestinian deaths to every 1 Israeli death. Today, what little remains of Palestine is cut up and occupied by strong (U.S. backed) Israeli forces, and Arab’s have understandably developed a strong hatred for Israel.

A cease fire is not a solution to the problem, as Israel continues to build Jewish settlements within Palestine to this very day. The only legitimate solution would be for Israel to withdraw from Palestine, back to the original 1948 borders. Israel must then allow all displaced Palestinians to move back to their homes in what is now Israel, and run a proper democracy.

Until this happens, Arabs will continue to defend Palestinians by retaliating against Israel and the U.S.A. in any way they can. Hamas will continue fighting back. Egyptians have voted out their puppet government. Saddam Hussein stopped selling oil for U.S. dollars. Libya tried creating an African currency to reduce U.S. hegemony. Russia is helping Syria in its struggle against clandestine Israeli forces. Iran is developing nuclear weapons to even the playing field. All the while Barak Obama will have to restrain Israel from executing their ‘Samson Option’ (a widespread nuclear attack against the whole world).

Arabs have had such a strong hatred for Jews that even Roosevelt was taken aback when he went to negotiate with King Saud.

The first city Mohammed conquered was a Jewish city. The Muslims began hating the Jews way back then centuries and centuries and centuries ago, because the Jews would not convert to Islam and resented having these Muslim warriers attack them and their city. Imagine that.

I don't know why people hated Jews hundreds of years ago. What I do know is that people do not hate others without a reason. I can see the reasons why many people hate Israeli’s today (illegal occupation of Palestine, nuclear proliferation, etc.). I’ve heard that 70 years ago, Germans hated Jews because they saw Jews as ruthless profit seekers who were ruining German society. I can see why people are beginning to hate bankers today (bank bailouts, yet unprecedented profits, excessive lending causing high inflation, etc.)

Far too often people presume others are irrational, lunatic or mindless haters. Rather than dismissing age old hatred of Jews as a fluke chance of recurring racism, a logical person would try to find the real reasons for this hatred. In the eyes of the haters, there may have been a very rational reason to hate Jews at the time.

Although, I do admit that many people are and have historically been irrational, mindless haters.

Twisting the cause and effects doesn't make the reporter accurate. repeating the false starting point doesn't make you knowledgable, it proves your gullibility. Now that is very simple-minded.

Jabari was the Hamas Military Leader. Hamas is a terrorist organization bent on killing jews and screams death to America and death to Israel. Jabari was the Palestinian leader in Gaza approving the launch of rockets. The buck stopped with him. The hundreds of rockets that were fired into Israel were done so with his knowledge. The Israelis know that, and they retaliate. Dont twist the facts to justify your cause, its delusional.

Jabari ordered the rockets fired into Israel, Israel retaliated by blowing up his car. Now that's VERRY SIMPLE.

Twisting the cause and effects doesn't make the reporter accurate. repeating the false starting point doesn't make you knowledgable, it proves your gullibility. Now that is very simple-minded.

Jabari was the Hamas Military Leader. Hamas is a terrorist organization bent on killing jews and screams death to America and death to Israel. Jabari was the Palestinian leader in Gaza approving the launch of rockets. The buck stopped with him. The hundreds of rockets that were fired into Israel were done so with his knowledge. The Israelis know that, and they retaliate. Dont twist the facts to justify your cause, its delusional.

Jabari ordered the rockets fired into Israel, Israel retaliated by blowing up his car. Now that's VERRY SIMPLE.

If you were a young Muslim man in Gaza with little access to girls, night clubs, pubs etc (the usual pastimes in the rest of the world) and your choices were between swanning around with a big gun, feeding yourself via the largesse of European dupes and getting nice cars from the same source OR going to work to make a living ...what would you do?? I realize that this is a simplification of the situations in Gaza and many other ME countries but it is certainly a factor. I met many young Libyans while working in Libya who still remembered the best times of their lives as being the years they spent at Universities in the USA, sponsored by US oil companies. As they said, it was the only time they had been free to live a life. When it comes to the boredom and disaffection of young Arab men and the outlet they seek in hatred and violence, the deadening hand of Islam has a lot to answer for........

It is a fair point that lots of those with guns on the Palestinian side would be big losers if there was peace. They have status now. They would be unemployed losers without guns.

But that is true of lots of people on the Israeli side as well, particularly those who, bit by bit, want to gain "living space" be getting the non-Jews out of "Greater Israel." Peace would kill their dream.

Reporting on this conflict as if there are two sides is mistaken. There are at least two sides on each of the two sides.

Re: "the deadening hand of Islam has a lot to answer for...."
"Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it"
That's from the Introductioh of the Hamas Charter--their constitution. Focus not on the reference to Israel, but on what follows: "as ....[Islam] has obliterated others before it."
The others "obliterated" by Islamic armies were largely Christian communities and cities. The Qur'an is a fighting document, and the Hamas Charter relies upon it; is based upon it.
"The Islamic Resistance Movement ...whose way of life is Islam. It strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine..." Article VI.
That was written in 1988. In 1210 a Hamas leader repeated the phrase "over every inch of Palestine". Nothing has changed. That is the goal. That is the grievance. That is all there is to it.

That's quite simply is just NOT TRUE. You don't know any so-called Jewish settler. I do. They emphatically do NOT want to "get" non-Jews/Arabs out of there. The opposite. They indeed want to live in judea and Saamria as is their right. Beside the others, but not insetad of them. you don't know s*it. You speak nonsense and rubbish!